1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

"Charge Now" unable to select

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by btrflies, Dec 18, 2017.

  1. btrflies

    btrflies Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2017
    20
    9
    0
    Location:
    Rockingham VA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    Been having this problem intermittently for past month. Sometimes when I plug in the charger, it will not charge. I get that message that says "Charge Now" or schedule. But I have no schedule, have never set up a schedule, and the "Charge Now" option is grayed out, I am unable to select it at all with any buttons. So basically I cannot charge my car when it decides to do this! I have the 2017 Prius Prime Premium.

    The battery was not hot because all I did was move parking spaces, its not cold outside, around 50 degrees. I tried unplugging, plugging, unplugging very fast and plugging back in, unplugging from socket wall with charger still in car port, nothing works. Tried having all doors shut, trying with drivers side door open, trying with trunk open (which is what I normally do). Usually when this happens, unplugging and re-plugging eventually makes it work. Tonight I spent 10 minutes trying to make it charge with no luck.

    I can try to take it to the dealership, but what will they be able to do about it since its an intermittent problem? Only other thing I can think of is to set a charging schedule for a time that's 5 minutes after I plug it in and see if it actually charges? But why should I have to spend all my time doing that when I just want to charge my car immediately? Frustrating. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    almost sounds more like an evse problem than a car problem. have you tried any L2 charging?
     
  3. btrflies

    btrflies Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2017
    20
    9
    0
    Location:
    Rockingham VA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    I don't have an L2 station in my area. It's just simple wall outlets for me. The same 3 as a matter of fact. One at home,one at my work building and the other at my Father's office building. All 3 have had this happen from time to time.

    I just went out there and tricked it into charging by setting a charge schedule to start at the current time, and it DID start to charge. If that's what I have to do when that happens, then that's what I'll have to do. But it takes more time to get back into the car and create a schedule, when all I want to do is plug it in and leave.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    agreed. if that turns out to work every time, it sounds like a ecu issue.
     
  5. btrflies

    btrflies Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2017
    20
    9
    0
    Location:
    Rockingham VA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    By ECU issue, you mean its a problem with the car's electrical system? Meaning I should take it to the dealer? If so, and if I do, do you think they'd be able to find the problem and fix it?
     
  6. MNdriver

    MNdriver Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2016
    549
    577
    0
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    The other way to charge immediately is to connect the cable, remove it, then connect it again. Have you tried that?
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i mean software. they won't likely be able to fix it unless you can replicate, or there is a trouble code.
     
  8. btrflies

    btrflies Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2017
    20
    9
    0
    Location:
    Rockingham VA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    Yes, like I said...I tried unplugging, plugging, unplugging very fast and plugging back in.
     
  9. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2005
    2,542
    2,485
    0
    Location:
    Nebraska
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I have had that happen several times. Just leave it alone. Come back in 10 minutes or so and it will be charging.
     
  10. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2016
    2,036
    1,020
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Is it possible that it already is mostly charged.......and it takes some time for the computer to "realize" that it isn't really fully charged ??
     
  11. Pdog808

    Pdog808 Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2017
    411
    271
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    @huskers is correct. I ran into something similar to what you are describing, just on random L2 chargers. After plugging, unplugging, messing with schedules, etc., I found out that all you need to do is wait about 5 minutes and the car will start charging on its own.

    I have no idea why there is a delay sometimes. Happens to me about 1 in every 10 charges or so. Cold weather, hot weather it doesn't make a difference.
     
    Arctic_White and huskers like this.
  12. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2005
    2,542
    2,485
    0
    Location:
    Nebraska
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I think I noticed if I had a lot of short trips totaling 20+ miles or so it would happen.
     
  13. Pdog808

    Pdog808 Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2017
    411
    271
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    In my case it's in the morning before 6am when I am pulling in to my chargers at work after about an 18 mile drive that starts on EV then switches to HV for about 12 high-speed miles (70+ MPH) then back to EV for the last 3 or so.
     
  14. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    2,730
    2,638
    0
    Location:
    Farmington Hills, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    traveled 4.0 miles all EV ( fully charged battery) finished the 4.0 mile trip, plugged in (L1 EVSE) No green light illuminated waited 10-15 seconds still no green light.also could not lock J1772 plug. so I pulled plug out, re-inserted it green light came on and was able to lock the J1772 first time I noticed this phenomenon
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    sounds like a major prime bug.
     
  16. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    2,730
    2,638
    0
    Location:
    Farmington Hills, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    [​IMG]
     
    bisco likes this.
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    exactly
     
    priuscatprimeguy likes this.
  18. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Which buttons? The description is a mix of both screens, two very different options.

    When you plug in, the smaller "speedo-cluster" screen will pop up, expecting a response from the steering-wheel. That's a simple slide indicator, where just pushing the center button will toggle it.

    When you shut off the car, for about 20 seconds, the larger screen on the dashboard will offer a "Charge Now" button. That is grayed out to indicate immediate charging is already set because there is nothing scheduled.

    Read these illustrated instructions for more information... John's Stuff - Toyota Prius Prime - Home Charging


    That's exactly what you shouldn't do. Fast could cause a fault. You likely need to reset your CFCI outlet, service-panel breaker, or the charger itself.

    What does the status light indicate ?
     
    Arctic_White likes this.
  19. p74atrick

    p74atrick Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2018
    17
    12
    0
    Location:
    ESYR, NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Ok, my .02... I have had the car for 9 months and I've put on 15K w a 50% ev ratio, so the battery has had her share of use. Until 2 months ago, I driving the car 100 miles a day and the battery ran fine. From the end of June until today (7/27), I've been using the car strictly for small trips around town and this issue happened! I believe a poster mentioned this and I believe this is the cause. I also think that you should plug it in and leave it for 5-10 minutes-- It seems like all these "short trips" are possibly messing up the battery. Or maybe the battery's "brain" just needs a minute to do its thing when you plug it in after its had a big load on its shoulders.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    Arctic_White likes this.
  20. p74atrick

    p74atrick Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2018
    17
    12
    0
    Location:
    ESYR, NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    This was also just after refilling the gas tank -- not sure if there could be a correlation.

    1025 miles from last tank - whooohooo!!!

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.